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[Draugoth]

Senior Art Director Samwise Didier announced his retirement from Blizzard Entertainment today. Credited with creating Blizzard's art style and even coming up with the Warcraft name, for 32 years he lent pen and voice to bringing these worlds to life.



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Beginning his career at Blizzard (then called Silicon & Synapse) after reading a terse newspaper ad in December of 1991 and being hired the very same day, Samwise since served as art director for each of Blizzard's major franchises, was credited as a producer of several games, and was further credited with creating Blizzard's distinctive house art style that has permeated the majority of their illustrations and games... but his contributions don't stop there. He's lent his writing, music, and voice to bringing these fantastic worlds to life, and was even credited with coming up with the name Warcraft - based on his D&D character at the time. He also created the Pandaren, and both his name and likeness are sprinkled throughout each and every Blizzard game.​

 

[Jboemios]

32 years working and he looks like that. How old was him when he started, 10?

 

[YCoCg]

I seriously love how a lot of the old guard who started in the 90's pretty much look like Geeky Metalheads.

 

[FingerBang]

I seriously love how a lot of the old guard who started in the 90's pretty much look like Geeky Metalheads.

Man, those were the days. The kids raised on whatever the fuck modern music is will never be as so-uncool-it's-cool as them.

 

[Hudo]

I seriously love how a lot of the old guard who started in the 90's pretty much look like Geeky Metalheads.

Incidentally, Samwise also drew a lot of the Album covers for a Power Metal band called "Hammerfall".

 

[Johnny Concrete]

This dude is a legend. But I thought he left Blizzard ages ago.

 

[Topher]

32 years working and he looks like that. How old was him when he started, 10?

The gray hairs peeking out from his beard tell me he is coloring the mop on his head.

 

[SmokedMeat]

The gray hairs peeking out from his beard tell me he is coloring the mop on his head.

He might be coloring his beard too. That or he’s very lucky, because he’s my age and my beard’s full of gray.

 

[Arsic]

This dude is a legend. But I thought he left Blizzard ages ago.

I legit thought he left long ago too because he used to be on stage and in interviews too. Odd time for him to bail with Metzen back…

 

[yet_another_alt]

dude looks like he's in he's 30's wtf

 

[skit_data]

He has indeed been around for a long time, remember his name being mentioned mostly in relation to the Warcraft games.

 

[Topher]

He might be coloring his beard too. That or he’s very lucky, because he’s my age and my beard’s full of gray.

You are probably right. I'm the same age as well and definitely have a much grayer beard than that.

 

[Tomi]

Blizzard is dying, why did they destroy everything what was good

This is disaster

 

[twilo99]

Oh no! Someone has left a job. Blizzard are doomed.

Am I doing it right?

According to many, Blizzard can no longer make video games..

 

[squarealex]

Oh no! Someone has left a job. Blizzard are doomed.

Am I doing it right?

I mean, this is the art director and artist for many Blizzard games... (since 90's).
So, in some way... yeah.

 

[skit_data]

Oh no! Someone has left a job. Blizzard are doomed.

Am I doing it right?

I mean, he's probably the only person from Blizzard I can name (partly because it's pretty unusual) so he's not just some random person. Then again I haven't played almost any of their games since WC2 and WC3 outside of Starcraft 2.

Edit: Of course it doesn't mean they are doomed in any way but it is something worth taking note of

 

[ReBurn]

You are probably right. I'm the same age as well and definitely have a much grayer beard than that.

No kidding. Same here. But I went gray in my late 20's, so this probably isn't a conversation I should be trying to relate to.

 

[poppabk]

"We are going to be making games with a middle-earth style fantasy theme, are you sure you are a fit *glances at CV* Samwise?"

 

[Luc2010]

He will get replaced by an A.I. director. Lol

 

[Darchaos]

The fuck are you talking about age in the thread? Are you all unsecure about age or wtf is going on? Come at me you fucks, kiss me on my bald spot!

 

[Horseganador]

Blizzard's talent is starting to leave.

 

[Jigsaah]

O7 Samwise.

 

[gothmog]

Blizzard's talent is starting to leave.

It's the downside of a major change of control. Everyone tends to do a bit of soul searching and decides to either stay or go, but at a macro level.

 

[WitchHunter]

Senior Art Director Samwise Didier announced his retirement from Blizzard Entertainment today. Credited with creating Blizzard's art style and even coming up with the Warcraft name, for 32 years he lent pen and voice to bringing these worlds to life.



​

Finally, they can replace the ugly dragons with something more credible:

 

[Tomeru]

32 years working and he looks like that. How old was him when he started, 10?

Sir, this was the exact thought I had, to the letter. How dare you.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

This is Neil's fault.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Oh no! Someone has left a job. Blizzard are doomed.

Am I doing it right?

blizzard been dead before this guy left. cry and cope more though.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Never mind the young look (Google says he's 51 or 52), I never knew Samwise was a real name. I thought it was a LOTR name.

 

[Gudji]

This dude is a legend. But I thought he left Blizzard ages ago.

Same.

 

[skit_data]

Incidentally, Samwise also drew a lot of the Album covers for a Power Metal band called "Hammerfall".

Huh, I had no idea. Not much of a power metal fan but as a metal listener and swede I'm kinda surprised I never heard about that. But then again I realized just how huge Sabaton is worldwide just the other week, I'm totally out of the loop xD

 

[Sleepwalker]

No kidding. Same here. But I went gray in my late 20's, so this probably isn't a conversation I should be trying to relate to.

Yup, started detecting grey hairs in my mid 20s lol, genetics are a bitch. Have a couple streaks in my beard nowadays but nothing too bad yet in my 30s.

Id take greys over balding anyday tho so I'm alright.

 

[Rhazkul]

"The War within" isn't just the name for the new expansion. It's probably how things are inside Blizzard: the OGs like Metzen, Samwise, Kaplan vs the woke untalented zoomer devs.

 

[AREYOUOKAY?]

I would leave also if I was disrespected like this.

 

[Rhazkul]

I seriously love how a lot of the old guard who started in the 90's pretty much look like Geeky Metalheads.

Because that's what they are. Remember Elite Tauren Chieftain?

 

[AJUMP23]

Ring bearers do not age as others.

 

[Faust]

Because that's what they are. Remember Elite Tauren Chieftain?

Back when Blizzard had a spine. I miss those days.

 

[Rhazkul]

Back when Blizzard had a spine. I miss those days.

You and me both. Gaming hasn't been the same after 2012 and GG.

 

[skit_data]

Because that's what they are. Remember Elite Tauren Chieftain?

Also, let's not forget... whatever the hell this is:


Some kind of wierd medieval disco funk prog rock?

Edit: I remember not really remembering which cheatcode would result in what effect so I just always typed in each one so this was pretty much the soundtrack I associate with WC2 rather than the "regular" soundtrack

 

[DrCheese]

Also, let's not forget... whatever the hell this is:


Some kind of wierd medieval disco funk prog rock?

Edit: I remember not really remembering which cheatcode would result in what effect so I just always typed in each one so this was pretty much the soundtrack I associate with WC2 rather than the "regular" soundtrack

haha, that's a pee-take of "I'm a mechnical man" from Command and Conquer

 

[Gaelyon]

He looks like Ryan Reynolds cosplaying a nice metal geek. Wish him a good retiring, his job seemed like a dream job.

 

[DavJay]

If you can work in the same company in this industry that long you did something right. Best of luck to him

 

[ReBurn]

Yup, started detecting grey hairs in my mid 20s lol, genetics are a bitch. Have a couple streaks in my beard nowadays but nothing too bad yet in my 30s.

Id take greys over balding anyday tho so I'm alright.

Same. I'll take a full head of prematurely gray hair over a bald head, thanks. My dad didn't leave me much, but I did get a bunch of hair.

 

[HAYA8U5A]

 

[Deerock71]

 

[Varteras]

Same. I'll take a full head of prematurely gray hair over a bald head, thanks. My dad didn't leave me much, but I did get a bunch of hair.

Same. I've had gray hairs since my 20's. More now in my 40's but still much more predominantly brown. Both sides of my family have no history of male pattern baldness and it shows. My buddy, only a year older than me, has a clearly developing bald spot on the back of his head. His 35 year old brother is already bald. I'll take my luscious gray hairs, thank you.

 

[adamsapple]

Same. I'll take a full head of prematurely gray hair over a bald head, thanks. My dad didn't leave me much, but I did get a bunch of hair.

I started greying since 19, 20 lol. I use natural hair color every couple of months but now I just let it grey out a little bit more.

Same as you, I'd take this over balding patches in a heartbeat.

 

[poodaddy]

I started greying since 19, 20 lol. I use natural hair color every couple of months but now I just let it grey out a little bit more.

Same as you, I'd take this over balding patches in a heartbeat.

I've got really thick, long hair, not unlike Samwise there, but I must admit that I've got more gray than him at 36. I've never colored it, the wife says she likes the salt and pepper look so I figure why bother.

I don't think I'll have gray hair really when all is said and done, my hairs are turning pure white, I mean like piercing white, and I don't really know why. I'm cool with it though, soon I'll look like Gandalf the White and that's fine by me.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

I started greying since 19, 20 lol. I use natural hair color every couple of months but now I just let it grey out a little bit more.

Same as you, I'd take this over balding patches in a heartbeat.

19 or 20? Wow. I knew a guy getting greys on his sides at around 30 (give or take a year) and I thought that was crazy enough! It gets to a point though. Just let it grey. You dont want to be one of those 50 or 60 year olds with solid brown or black hair like he's 20! If you do that, everyone will know you dunk your head in Just For Men every two weeks.

As for me, I got greys starting 10 years ago. A few hey or there I'd pick out. Now it's salt and peppery with maybe 25% grey, and more and more every year.

As for balding, I definitely dont have a good shaped dome, so thankfully I got full hair. I'm assuming if I havent thinned out or got the horseshoe head yet, I'll pretty much have full hair till I die. Then again, I dont know. Maybe in 10 years suddenly all my falls out out!

 

[adamsapple]

19 or 20? Wow.

Yeah I know, it was really weird cause I was coloring in my college days lol.

I think Matt Leblanc (Joey from Friends) also had very early greying and he's basically had his hair colored through the entire run of Friends.

But, god bless I still have a very full and healthy set of hair, minus them greying out.

And I'll probably stop coloring when I reach late 30s, or at most early 40s.

 

[Dacvak]

That’s a good lookin bloke for being in his 50s. I don’t give a shit about Blizzard, but I bet he has a crazy hair and skin care routine lol